Crypto-native casino and sportsbook operator BetHog has successfully closed a $10 million Series A funding round, bringing its total capital raised to $16 million.
The round, co-led by Will Ventures and RockawayX, marks the official launch of Sentient Studios, a revolutionary B2B business line designed to dismantle traditional live dealer infrastructure in favor of AI-powered alternatives.
The AI Advantage: 10x Popularity
The core of Sentient Studios is a B2B platform that enables casino operators to deploy AI-driven “live” dealers without the logistical constraints of physical studios, massive staffing models, or shift rotations.
BetHog CEO and co-founder Nigel Eccles highlighted the staggering performance of their proprietary technology:
“We’ve tested our basic AI dealer over the past six months and have discovered that it is 10 times more popular than its live dealer equivalent. In addition, we’ve seen better retention and player satisfaction. With Sentient Studios, we’re excited to bring this product to other online casinos where operators can launch and scale their own dealer experiences instantly, operate continuously, and create more personalised interactions for players.”
Dismantling Studio Constraints
Sentient Studios operates on a revenue-share model with zero setup fees, aimed at lowering entry barriers. The platform allows for real-time localization across languages and the dynamic scaling of tables, capabilities that are often bottle-necked in traditional human-staffed environments.
The launch follows the massive success of “Sunny,” BetHog’s AI blackjack dealer introduced in October 2025, which is now available in 12 languages. The studio plans to expand its automated offerings to include baccarat and roulette later this year.
